US2004242511A1PendingUtilityA1

Method

42
Priority: Jan 23, 2001Filed: Jan 22, 2002Published: Dec 2, 2004
Est. expiryJan 23, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Elizabeth Mary FisherSarah LloydJohn Collinge
C12Q 1/6883A61P 25/00G01N 33/6896G01N 2800/2828
42
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Claims

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the detection of prions in a sample comprising the steps of contacting one or more test animals with the sample; incubating the test animals; monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death; and optionally performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions; wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 196 days or less.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for the detection of prions in a sample comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting one or more test animals with the sample;    (b) incubating the test animals;    (c) monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death; and optionally    (d) performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions; wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 196 days or less.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the test animals to be contacted with the sample are mice.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the test animals to be contacted with the sample are derived from SJL mice.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the test animals to be contacted with the sample are SJL mice.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the test animals to be contacted with the sample are transgenic for one or more gene(s) from SJL mice.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the gene(s) comprise one or more PrP gene(s).  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the PrP gene(s) encode a mammalian PrP.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the PrP gene(s) encode a livestock or a human PrP.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the sample contains prions that would cause BSE or vCJD in their appropriate host.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the sample is derived from a mammal.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the sample is derived from livestock or a human.  
     
     
         12 . A method for the identification of genes associated with short prion incubation times comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting one or more test animals with a sample;    (b) incubating the test animals;    (c) monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death; and optionally    (d) performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions;    (e) identifying test animals with short and with longer prion incubation times;    (f) comparing the genes of test animals with short and with longer prion incubation times;    (g) identifying one or more genes that differ in the test animals with short and with longer prion incubation times; and optionally    (h) determining the function of one or more genes that differ between the test animals with short and with longer prion incubation times.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the test animals to be contacted with the sample are transgenic for one or more prion susceptibility genes.  
     
     
         14 . A method for identifying one or more agents capable of modulating prion infection comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting one or more test animals with a sample;    (b) contacting one or more test animals with an agent;    (c) incubating the test animals;    (d) monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death and performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions;    (e) identifying said agents that increase or decrease the prion incubation time, wherein optionally a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions may be performed after step (d).    
     
     
         15 . An agent identified by a method according to  claim 14  wherein said agent is capable of modulating prion infection.  
     
     
         16 . A medicament for the treatment of a prion infection comprising an agent according to  claim 15 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of modulating prion infection in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent according to  claim 15 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for estimating the amount of prions in a sample comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting one or more test animals with the sample;    (b) incubating the test animals;    (c) monitoring the test animals;    (d) noting the amount of time taken for the test animal to display clinical symptoms of prion infection and the amount of time taken for the test animal to die;    (f) estimating the amount of prions in the sample from the times of(d).    
     
     
         19 . A method of estimating the susceptibility of test animals to prion infection, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) incubating the test animals;    (b) monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death;    (d) performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions;    (e) performing glycoform ratio analysis;    (f) estimating the susceptibility of test animals to prion infection.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the sample contains prions that cause BSE or vCJD in their appropriate host.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 100 days or less.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 40 days or less.  
     
     
         23 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent according to  claim 15 .  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 100 days or less.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 40 days or less.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 100 days or less.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 40 days or less.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 100 days or less.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 40 days or less.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 100 days or less.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 40 days or less.

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